Caiti Mondragon

About: I have been blessed to be able to be married to my best friend, Ray, for almost nine years. Ray always pushes me to not only help our kids reach their dreams but to still strive for mine as well. I have been a stay at home mom for the last six years, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is the hardest, yet, most rewarding job I have ever had. I have three beautiful children; two who are in school, and one I still get to love on all day long. I thank God for giving me this great opportunity to share a little bit of my life with others. Check out my personal blog at www.mrsmomdragon.wordpress.com.

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Sunday night I got the opportunity to go to the Lincoln Brewster concert with my husband and the worship team from our church. If there is anyone who doesn’t know who he is, he is a contemporary Christian artist. He came from mainstream music, played with a little band called Journey (no big deal) and felt a calling to the church.

I must admit: Before the concert, I was thinking about all of the dirty dishes that were sitting in my sink and just all of the “things” around my house that needed to be done. But I went and it was so much more than a concert. I have learned over the past 10 years (maybe some of you can relate) that it’s the times that I just don’t feel like going to church that God speaks directly to my heart.

Let me first say that Lincoln Brewster is an AMAZING guitar player. I felt honored to be in the presence of such talent. After playing a couple of songs, he began talking about the first time he played at church. Much different than he was used to, he was now playing “happy go lucky” guitar-picking music, not the “melt your face off” rock band guitar solos.

But after playing in a “happy go lucky” style, he felt God speak to him. He explained that God said, “Why are you holding back?” Wow. Nothing like being called out.

God placed a gift in his heart, and although he wasn’t playing mainstream music anymore, the gift was ever present and meant to be heard. He realized that he was afraid to play the way he was meant to because he was in church and didn’t want to offend anyone. It was from that moment that he decided he would never minimize what God had given him.

Do you ever feel like you minimize your God-given talent? Don’t. God gave it to you for a reason. It was not meant to be hidden or wasted. I encourage you to not be afraid that you are going to offend anyone. When we demonstrate our gift, I imagine God smiling down upon us. If it’s going to make God smile, imagine what it can do to everyone around you. Give each and every day 100 percent; give it your all… especially your gift. If God gave it to you, please use it so that people can see God through you. Let it rip. Let your talent shine.

Caiti Mondragon is married with three children. Read her Tuesdays on Greeley Moms. Also check out her personal blog here.

I have learned over the past 10 years (maybe some of you can relate) that it’s the times that I just don’t feel like going to church that God speaks directly to my heart.